Acid Fast Bacilli Microscopy (AFB Smear) | KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Specimen Container	Sterile swab with Amies transport medium Wide-mouth sterile container
Specimen Requirement	If fluid, collect in sterile container. If exudate, collect in sterile swab. Send immediately to Lab.
Specimen Storage/Transport	Collect three sputum specimens for acid-fast smears and culture in patients with clinical and chest x-ray findings compatible with tuberculosis. These three samples should be collected at 8-24 hour intervals and should include at least one first morning specimen. Specimens must be delivered to the laboratory promptly. Specimens that cannot be processed within one hour of the time of collection will be refrigerated during transport to and storage in the laboratory prior to processing. This will decrease overgrowth with contaminating organisms likely to be present.
Orderable as Urgent?	No
Turn Around Time	4 - 6 hrs (Normal Office Hours)
Reference Value(s)	-
Testing Laboratory Location	KKH
Laboratory	Microbiology
Contact Number	6394 1388
Day and Time Performed	Mon - Fri: 0800 hrs to 1900 hrs Last specimen receipt time: 1800 hrs Sat: 0800 hrs to 1700 hrs Last specimen receipt time: 1630 hrs Sun: 0800 hrs to 1600 hrs Last specimen receipt time: 1500 hrs
Orderable on CPOE?	Yes
Downtime Form	Bacteriology, Mycology,Parasitology Tests
Additional Information	Tissue samples will be sent to SGH

Change History Notes

Last Updated - 28 May 2025